Mountain Bike up to £650

Rybo89 · 26 May 2013 at 19:30

Hello guys,

I did post up in the MB thread but i had no reply, so made a thread.

With the little man being 7yo we have bought him his first decent-ish mountain bike (Boys 20" Carrera Blast). Sooo, i am now in need of a Mountain bike so we can go out together on the bikes.

Use to have a 2011 Kona Blast and it was a fantastic bike.The only Problem was is that i got the 19" when i should have got a 20-21". So sold it and never decided to buy another until now.

My budget is around £650. I have been hovering over the buy button on a Kona Blast 2013 @ £679 but i thought i would post here first to see if there is anything else out there worth considering, what also might save me a little bit of money.

I don't recognise hardly any of the brands these days and have no clue about the equipment.

So the main things i am looking for:

Build quality (reason why i have always loved Kona's)
Looks
Ride quality
Hard tail

Any recommendations/reviews will be greatly appreciated

Begbie · 26 May 2013 at 19:41

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-81-2012-mountain-bike-grey-id_8168918.html

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/hardrock-sport-disc-2013-mountain-bike-ec040961

Both seem like decent bikes, though under your budget. I doubt your going to be going crazy at all if your out with your kid?

I know I'd want at least a better front shock on trails.

Rybo89 · 26 May 2013 at 20:36

Na, nothing crazy.

When i am with friends i might do the odd rocky trail at most. The Kona Blast handled these brilliantly.

Another thing i liked about the Blast was how light it was to.

Think i am basically saying, if anything matches the Kona Blast 2011 (but newer), ill be happy and a bonus if it is under budget . I just don't know anything at all about the equipment in the listings, so can't match things up.

Thanks

Begbie · 26 May 2013 at 20:39

Going by these specs and price;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products...crid_19994854496_kword__match__plid_#features

I'd say the rockridder kicks its *** for value:components but then the frame could be a let down. I'd go try the rockridder, it looks like a steal and you can't go wrong with a specialized it will handle anything the Kona could.

grudas · 26 May 2013 at 20:41

rockrider imo is a nice bike!

Regy53 · 26 May 2013 at 20:42

Scott Scale 60.

Mine is a dream to cycle real nice bike

Rybo89 · 26 May 2013 at 22:19

I like the look of the Specialized. The RockRider looks ok, not sure on the Grey/black and blue theme though.

I know Evans Cycles let you test out the bikes before you buy without any hassle, but they are 25miles away from me (Nottingham city centre). So just cannot find the time to go down between work hours for when they are open.

I have a JE James around the corner from me. Not sure if they let you test out the bikes though? I know their prices are silly compared to places like Evans Cycles.

Castiel · 27 May 2013 at 09:09

I just bought a Specialized Hardrock Disc 29er. Great bike at £500.

touch · 27 May 2013 at 09:17

Canyon Yellowstone 4.0 is worth considering at £525

Rybo89 · 27 May 2013 at 13:49

Thanks guys, been reading a few reviews on the bikes listed here and they all have top reviews.

What's the opinion on 29ers? Some people saying they are more dangerous, some saying they ride loads better than the normal 26".

Begbie · 27 May 2013 at 13:54

I wouldn't bother with a 29r, I run 26 and I've not found anything technical enough to go damn wish I had a 29er. From some reviews, they say their quicker uphill but not by enough to be worried about imo.

touch · 27 May 2013 at 14:02

In short: a 29er rolls faster but changes direction slower.
There are some other differences to consider but if you're not concerned about speed then wheel size wont make much difference to you.

touch · 27 May 2013 at 14:05

Begbie said:
I wouldn't bother with a 29r, I run 26 and I've not found anything technical enough to go damn wish I had a 29er.

I think you've got that the wrong way round. 26ers are more maneuverable and better for tight, technical stuff.
I have a 29er and frequently find stuff technical enough to go "damn, wish i had a 26er"

Begbie · 27 May 2013 at 14:11

touch said:
I think you've got that the wrong way round. 26ers are more maneuverable and better for tight, technical stuff.
I have a 29er and frequently find stuff technical enough to go "damn, wish i had a 26er"

Ahh, I though a 29er was designed to be able to go over rocks etc easier without smashing the frame?

Never tried one though, so I'm totally clueless and at the moment have no intrest on changing bike so I'm a bit ignorant to them.

touch · 27 May 2013 at 14:20

I suppose it depends on the terrain really. A 29er might be better in a long, straight rock garden because the wheels wont drop as deep into the gaps. Anything with tight turns favours a 26er though.
I guess thats why most downhill bikes are still on 26inch wheels whereas most xc racers have switched to 29ers.

Rybo89 · 27 May 2013 at 14:30

Ok guys, thanks for that. I prefer to be able to move easier, rather than speed.

One more question. I am 6ft2 and bought a 19" frame last time after thinking it was ok after a test ride I had at Evans Cycles. Only when I went out on it properly I noticed it was to small and I had the seat stupidly high which just looked stupid and hurt my conkers.

All bikes seem to be 20" and then straight to 22". I think 21" would have been the sweet spot but I am struggling to find this size with the bikes I am looking at. So, 20" or 22"? What do you guys think?

Might nip down and see if JE James is open later after work and see if I can jump on one of their 22" frame bikes. (Doubt they will be open though with it being a bank holiday). Yes, I could just wait till tomorrow but the Kona Blast offer ends in 7 hour and I am still hovering over the buy button for that.

(never had anything other than a Kona so finding it hard to buy another brand, stupid I know...but can't help it)

Rybo89 · 27 May 2013 at 14:57

The lack of reviews is a bit off putting with the 2013 Blast. The 2011 I bought had thousands of reviews and was recommended by a few guys off here.

Hmmm...

Castiel · 27 May 2013 at 15:33

Rybo89 said:
Ok guys, thanks for that. I prefer to be able to move easier, rather than speed.

One more question. I am 6ft2 and bought a 19" frame last time after thinking it was ok after a test ride I had at Evans Cycles. Only when I went out on it properly I noticed it was to small and I had the seat stupidly high which just looked stupid and hurt my conkers.

All bikes seem to be 20" and then straight to 22". I think 21" would have been the sweet spot but I am struggling to find this size with the bikes I am looking at. So, 20" or 22"? What do you guys think?

Might nip down and see if JE James is open later after work and see if I can jump on one of their 22" frame bikes. (Doubt they will be open though with it being a bank holiday). Yes, I could just wait till tomorrow but the Kona Blast offer ends in 7 hour and I am still hovering over the buy button for that. (never had anything other than a Kona so finding it hard to buy another brand, stupid I know...but can't help it)

My specialized (pictured above) is a 21" frame. I am 6ft 2.It comes in a 26er as well as a 29er as well.

Begbie · 27 May 2013 at 15:49

My specialized is a large, not sure on frame measurements (also FS) but its a perfect height for me.

Rybo89 · 27 May 2013 at 16:05

JE James is open for when I get back to Chesterfield. I'll pop in and jump on some bikes and see if they have any in what is listed on here.

Pretty sure they don't do price match, so doubt I'll be buying anything tonight.